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(No Model.)

PIGKBR FOR LOOMS.

No. 535,119. Patented Mar. 5, 1895.

Tans

ATENT prion.

PICKER FOR LOOlViS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 535,119, dated March 5, 1895.

Application filed May 16,1894. Serial No. 511,395. (No model.) Patented in England April 26,1894=,No. 8,269.

To 00% whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JAMES MUIR and ALFRED MUIR, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of the city of Glasgow, Scotland, have invented certain newand useful Improvements in Pickers for Looms, (for which we have obtained Letters Patent of Great Britain, No. 8,269, dated April 26, 1894,) of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to pickers for looms and it has for its object to render them more durable and efficient than heretofore.

Some pickers have, heretofore, been made, in order to strengthen them, with a band of steel inserted between the plies of leather, said band being passed down one side around the back and up the other side of the picker, and then secured in place, at the two ends, by means of rivets passed through the leather and steel. In practice it has been found that the incessant hammering of the picker stick against the back of the picker, causes, in many cases the steel, at that part, to splinter and break. When so broken the steel splinters drop out of the picker and are apt to cause serious damage. Should the steel, as happens in some cases, remain intact, it is found, that, after some use, it presents too hard and unyielding a back to the picker stick with the result that the inner ply of leather becomes gradually chafed and worn away, until, eventually, the steel is exposed and the picker stick strikes against it and is soon more or less cut up.

Under our invention the metal band, which is preferably spring steel, is so made that While it gives the required rigidity to the sides of the picker it is capable of sufficient longitudinal movement to permit the leather at the back of the picker to stretch under the action of the picker-stick, thereby preventing the inner ply of leather being readily worn the band I). Fig. 4 is a side View of a slightly Fig. 3 is a side view of different form of band. Fig.5 is a plan view of the band. Fig. 6 is a plan view of the band made in two parts.

The band b Figs. 1 to 3 is made of a U shape and is inserted between the outer and the inner folds 0, cl of the leather being held in place, as usual, by rivets e. f is the tongue of the picker inserted in the eye between the longitudinal and the end portions of the picker. As shown at Fig. 3 each end of the band has slots 7t, it in it through which the rivets or staples 6 pass.

As shown in Fig. 4. the band I) has its ends Z, Z cut away, leaving a prong m at each end of the band which passes between the rivets or the prongs of the staples.

Fig. 5 shows a band such as at Figs. 3 and t made With the rounded back it thickened so as to give additional strength at that part.

Fig. 6 shows a band such as at Figs. 3 and 4 made in two parts 0, 0 which overlap each other at the back end 0 so as to give a double thickness of metal at that end.

By making the metal band with slots, as Z0, It or with projections as m its longitudinal movement is not prevented by the staples or rivets.

The invention is applicable to a picker made either of leather, as described, or of canvas, rubber or similar material.

Having now fully described our invention, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a picker for looms made of folds of leather, canvas, rubber, or similar material, the combination with the main body of the picker,'of a longitudinally movable strengthening band placed along such folds, and devices for connecting said band to said body, substantially as set forth.

2. In a picker for looms made of folds of leather, canvas, rubber or similar material,

the combination with the main body of the picker of a U-shaped strengthening band made with slots at each end, and of rivets inserted in said slots and passing through the folds, substantially as and for the purposes 3. In a picker for loomsythe combination with the main body of the picker made of folds of leather, canvas, rubber or similar material, of a tongue inserted in the eye of the picker, and a U-shaped metallic strength- Signed at Glasgow, Scotland, this 25th day eningband placed along such folds and joined of April, A. D. 1894.

to the main body by rivets or staples passing JAMES MUIR.

through said tongue, the longitudinal arms of ALFRED MUIR. 5 such band being cut out longitudinally where \Vitnesses:

the rivets pass through them, substantially as H. D. FITZPATRIOK,

set forth. WILLIAM FLEMING. 

